The Village Square: September 29, 2016

Tricks of the Rails
ICv2.com announced a November release date for Trick of the Rails, the game that “was the original card game design that inspired Alderac’s Trains. It combines trick taking mechanics with the themes of railroad building and stock manipulation found in more complex train games. The cards are multi-purpose, acting as stock shares during stock rounds and as railway tracks during operating rounds. The player who can collect the most valuable portfolio, rather than the most profitable railway, is the winner.” Be sure to check out our preview here.Source: http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35602/trains-designers-trick-rails-gets-u-s-release

Imperial Expansion
Another bit of news from our friends at Dice Tower News: a new Imperial Settlers expansion, Aztecs, will be available in December. “[I]n addition to adding the Aztecs to the game, religion is now making its way into the game as well. This will allow all the existing factions to hold festivals, perform ceremonies, and do other actions to gain favors and blessings from their gods. In turn you can use these blessings for bonuses to help you along to victory.”Source: http://www.dicetowernews.com/imperial-settlers-grows-one-clan-larger/31961

Colony Diary
Ted Alspach talked about his upcoming game, Colony, which will be released at Essen. From his designer diary on boardgamegeek.com: “Colony redefines how dice are used in games, with a randomized starting point for each turn — the active player rolls three dice, then they are drafted around the table — instead of the dice determining what you can do. The dice are merely a gentle nudge in one direction or another, but what you do with them — whether you store them, modify them, or use what you have to purchase something as you get them — is up to you. It allows for both short- and long-term strategic planning, as well as a pivot when you find yourself with a set of resources that could provide you with an alternative strategic direction as necessary.”Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/57819/designer-diary-colony-strategy-game

Atlas of Rokugan
Now available from drivethrurpg.com is the Atlas of Rokugan, a guide to the world of Legend of the Five Rings. “The Atlas of Rokugan features a chapter of each of the Great Clans, as well as the Minor Clans and Imperial holdings. Within these chapters, you’ll find information on each of the provinces, letting you learn the secrets of the Temple of the Lost Moto or walk among the armies hosted in Kokoro Province.”Source: https://drafts.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2016/9/27/the-world-is-at-your-fingers/

Love Legacy
I liked this look at the microgame-defining Love Letter and its offshoots. “Following the publication of Love Letter, the designers produced a new game called Lost Legacy. Actually, it’s a whole series of games, all with the same core rules, but each with a different set of cards (and thus different gameplay).”Source: http://www.mechanics-and-meeples.com/2016/09/26/the-love-letter-legacy/